Ivana Pinaffo

 A petite figure, a smile on her face and BRIGHT eyes behind those glasses...that's what I remembered about her appearance after I met her the first time...But what I remembered more was the tiny colourful card that she shared with me then! Ivana Pinaffo is the artist who among all her beautiful work is known for her fabulous Italian Mask Paintings ... and I got to know her more not right after our first meeting, but months later when we ended up exhibiting together!

In the weeks that we worked together, Ivana quickly became this loving friend always willing to help and guide...not only professionally but also at a personal level. And this is when the windows to her inner self slowly opened...That together with a visit to her lovely home and Studio late one night resulted in this post which is just about a year too late! (Sorry Ivana, but you know the roller-coaster ride that caused this delay! Better late than never?)



Ivana was drawn to art from when she was very young. She fondly remembers how her father used to get her art supplies as presents instead of toys because he knew how much happier his little princess would be. That feeling still reigns her inner self...she still gets excited when she visits an art store or when she opens a Christmas present and it has something related to art in it! "Not a day will pass without some form of creativity!" she says.

Born in North Africa, Ivana spent her early years with her parents following her dream of becoming an artist. But just as the reality of life hits everybody after a while little Ivana's fantasy was put on hold. She travelled to Malta to complete her higher education and then migrated to Australia with her parents.

It was in Australia where she got married and started a family. Ivana did not have a minute to look back and ponder. She was living another dream while the fire of creativity in her lay hidden deep inside...she did not have the opportunity to let it surface. Her days were full and nights short! She was loving this life...She had two beautiful daughters, an adoring husband and a brimming life!



It was only after her daughters left home that she stopped! She stopped to take a breath, stopped to sit down and give herself some time, stopped to think what she really wanted to do now...And today she is happy that she stopped!

The fire that was long hidden shone through again...and this time it was so bright and brilliant that even Ivana herself did not have any control on it! She delved into the world of Art and submerged all her senses in it's effervescence. She slowly transformed into this avatar that she could only dream of as a little girl... Ivana became the artist she fantasized about... 

 

Just walking into Ivana's home gives away the fact that she is an artist. Beautifully decorated, each corner of her haven tells stories of her wonderful life. Large family portraits, little soveniers and lots of paintings...they all tell tales about the past and the present and make the by-stander wonder how wondrous the coming years are going to be!

 

But even more awesome is the space she weaves the magic. Her Studio! It is this magical place where she transforms her experience past and present, her dreams and reality, her thoughts and her actions into ART!  This is where she has total control of her world but none over her senses...this is where she gets lost with no intention of finding herself...this is where she creates...

In her paintings, Ivana uses bright colours, broad brush strokes and thickened textures. Although her preferred medium is acrylic, she sometimes uses pastels and oil depending on the subject she is working on...If you ever caught her by surpeise, this is how Ivana's palette would look like!

Ivana has participated in numerous art shows and exhibitions. She loves to share her immense knowledge and experience but never stops learning herself....To know more about her current ativities or to buy some of her work, please go here.



 
 
 

 

Karin Zeller

 Soft relaxing music, lush green outdoors, shelves overflowing with books, cluttered table tops full of artists paraphernalia, an elaborate inspiration board and a big central workstation…that is what my senses were feasting on when Karin slowly opened up to me one fine morning at her Studio.  Her work spoke to me the very first time I saw only a bit of it on her Artist’s Card, but what was more interesting to see was how her eyes lit up every time she spoke about her work. There was this little girl full of glee hidden behind her calm, unruffled self and all I wanted to do then, was to one day meet that little girl who spins magic on paper. And that I finally did when Karin let her composed self go and let her real inner self take over.

 She always knew that she would be an artist, she said, and everybody else around her thought the same. She lovingly remembers how her mother always encouraged her to draw and express herself through colours. It was as if she was teaching little Karin how to find a companion within herself when nobody is around, how to build a self-support system with colours if real life is not really bright, how to find an oasis without having to really look for it. And this life lesson helped her all along because her art is her little world of glory where nothing morose or dreary can even come close. 

Karin very humbly recalled how during the initial days in the world of art she found it hard to believe that people would be willing to spend money for her drawings, but over time, and after doing hundreds of portrait commissions she felt confident about calling herself an artist. When she along with her family moved to Australia 20 yrs back Karin used her world of art to overcome the unforeseen loneliness and isolation that gripped her in the land that was foreign and new to her then. Although she was doing quite well in her business of pencil drawn portraits and found it rewarding at various levels she felt the urge to break-free and do something for herself. She wanted her creations to be guided by her sensations and not be confined by the limits of her vocation. This is when she took a step forward and slowly groomed herself to the fabulous artist she is today.

 She enjoys to work with watercolours and also loves to experiment with different techniques, media and styles at the same time. Art to her is almost like a self revelation where she can connect with her inner self. And that inner self undoubtedly is the inquisitive and joyful little girl who loves to play, dream and get lost. Her love of abstract was born about two decades ago, when she very playfully created the first tiger abstract and that marked the beginning of her love story with colours. Painting colourful abstracts of different animals – cats and fishes in particular gradually became her unique style brilliantly reflected in the kaleidoscopic paintings that she creates. “I’ve always loved cats, but never liked painting them until I stumbled upon Laurel Burch’s colourful cats.  Other influences who have inspired my colourful abstract style are Picasso and Paul Klee.”   

Being born in Germany, having spent a big part of her growing years in a farm in Canada with 6 siblings, together with a happy marriage and two wonderful kids, Karin dwells in a paradise that inspires her and nudges her to do more every day. Although there was a point in life when her marriage, kids and her job took precedence, today she is at a stage where she enjoys pursuing what she was destined to. Art as she says has slowly moved up the priority list and takes up most of her time now.  

Karin is an active member of the Hobsons Bay Art Society and enjoys the company of her social painting group. She regularly participates in art workshops and life drawing to improve artistic skills as she believes, “you can learn so many things from each person you meet”.  Karin shares her love for art by teaching water-colour and acrylic classes from her fabulous, fully equipped Studio at her home’s backyard. You can see more of her latest work here . She is also the proud mother of the talented young Jennifer Zeller who is currently busy making a mark in Berlin’s Art Space. A wide grin on her face every time she mentions her name is privy to the passion both mother and daughter lovingly shares.  Karin prefers leading a humble life not tainted by the success that art has brought to her. She rather basks in the happiness it brings along. A good cup of coffee, good music and her ‘space’ to create…that’s all she needs to spend a perfect day!

Julee Latimer




Julee Latimer. Photo by Dita

12 countries in 17 years! Apart from her being the friendliest person in the group,  that was what that I remembered about her when I came home that night. I remember the feeling of urgency in the drive back home...I could not wait to get onto the computer and have a look at her creations (and some of the others as well). A few clicks and there they were...resilient, spectacular works of art, mosaic sculptures like I had never seen before...and immediately the same feeling of awe struck me. The feeling that makes me want to know more about the person behind those creations, the feeling that fascinates me and makes me think what it is that makes her do what she does! She is Julee Latimer, the mosaic artist who

has been awarded, published and is represented by several prestigious galleries across the globe. Julee Latimer, the humble, honest, down to earth 'local' artist who will not speak about her accomplishments unless really asked! The Julee Latimer who was happy to have me in her Home Studio one fine January morning and chat over several cups of tea despite the time constraint of finishing PERSEPHONE, in time for their display at New York.

SIMPLY TULIP - Glass over hand formed substrate

Photo by Dita

 'Colours always fascinated me', she said, trying to remember what initiated the artist in her, "but I would never paint a whole field of flowers. I would rather highlight the details of the one colour in the one flower in its various shades and grandeur." This was before she started creating Mosaics but you can see the essence of this in her work even now. She loves to create pieces that play on the different shades of the one colour and evidently that is what has made her work so unique. 



Full and Close up view of HYBRID,
Glass over hand formed sculpture

Photo By Dita

When asked how it was to pursue a career in the world of art alongside bringing up two boys, she very lovingly recalled a few incidents where she stood blank in front of the canvas not being able to connect with the inspiration...but knew at the same time that she had this one hour only before she would have to jump in the car to pick the boys up from school.

She accompanied her husband where ever he had to move because of his work as she believed that a close knit environment at home would be best for her boys in their ever changing surroundings. Having studied Interior Designing and Colour Psychology, Julee on the other hand had to find something constant to pursue that would not be defined or dictated by the sundry Visa laws in the different countries. She needed to do something that would not disturb the equilibrium of their unique, ever evolving family life. After pursuing painting for some time she found her true passion in Mosaics about 15 years ago. She describes it to be "the most exciting art form I have ever come across. It combines texture, colour and light like no other and gives me the freedom to be carried away."

 

Emerald

Every move meant that Julee had to start her networking from scratch. But this has also helped her art-work evolve into what it is today. According to her, the Mosaic Artists Society worldwide is a very well connected group and that has been a positive influence all through. Contemporary Mosaic Art (CMA) which celebrated 6 yrs recently has also been a very supportive influence in her art-life in the last 6 years that she has been in Australia. Now that she has more time to devote to her passion, an ideal day starts with a Yoga session in the morning and about two hours at the computer doing all the administrative stuff that come along with being a free-lancer. The Yoga she loves but the administration she detests! After all that is out of the way she pretty much spends the rest of the day in her Studio letting her “real-self” take over. If it's fiddly, intricate pieces the indoor Studio rules, for bigger, commodious ones the spacious ‘hot pink’ Outdoor Studio is the place to be.



Currently on Julee's desk at the Indoor Studio. Photo by Dita.

 
Julee takes 5 weeks off every year to visit her parents in England. This is the time she spends to meditate, reflect and contemplate on the year spent and the time ahead...only to yearn to create more. Her fingertips itch and her mind overflows with the possibilities. She is back in 'heaven' when she starts Mosaicing again - creating magic by combining the sub-conscious with actuality. Mosaic to her is unique as a lot of thought, cognition and deliberation go into each piece because it is a slow, time consuming process. No wonder scratched knees, cut fingers or aching backs do not matter to her!

Julee with some of her Greek Goddess Flowers. Photo by Dita.

Her sheer hard work, persistence, incredible sense of colour and vivid imagination has created a niche for herself that is commendable. To see more of Julee’s work visit her website here. She has won several awards and her work has been published in many countries. She has recently exhibited at the prestigious International Exhibition of Contemporary Mosaic Art held at the Clauiano Art Exhibition Gallery Udine, Italy.  And the most exciting project that she is working on at present is for a New York based exhibition in April 2013 where she will be showcasing her Goddess Flower Sculptures - her vision of flowers based on the myths of the Seven Greek Goddess. You can take a sneak peek here.

Introducing RADIANT MINDS

Whenever I meet a person who does something out of the ordinary I am so awed that I almost wish to delve into her mind to see what exactly goes on there to make her so special...what exceptional chain of thought makes her so distinct, what momentous pattern makes her so exclusive...

RADIANT MINDS is a (developing) series of write-ups about these special idividuals who have made a mark of their own completely and entirely by themselves. It is a tribute to the thoughts and sensations of these souls who have exhibited the courage to think diffrently and on their own.

I hope you will get as much pleasure reading about these great people as much as I have meeting them and getting to know more about them!